What is the Cooperating Underage Witness Program?
A The Cooperating Underage Witness Program or “CUW Program” was given this name because the underage individuals participating in the program are Cooperating with the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement to ensure that retailers who sell alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are in compliance with state laws that prohibit the sale of these products to underage persons. Tobacco CUW’s are under the age of 18 making them Underage for purchase of tobacco products. Alcohol CUW’s are under the age of 21, making them Underage for purchase of alcoholic beverages. CUW’s can be summonsed to appear as a Witness for the Division if a case is scheduled for a hearing in a court or other proceeding. The goal of the CUW program is compliance. While some arrests may be made as a result of conducting compliance checks, Delaware’s goal is to have all of its retailers who sell alcoholic beverages and tobacco products comply with state law. If retailers would simply ask for identification and not
